Signal Mountain Happenings

Maeghan Jones, president of The Community Foundation; Marsha Drake, Hamilton County Department of Education’s director of student services; Blake Canterbury, founder of Purposity; and Arielle Hayes, principal of Dalewood Middle School.

Chattanooga has always been known for its philanthropy as residents rally around each other and respond when needs are identified. Whether its providing toys to children during the holidays, donating school supplies, or purchasing essential items for homeless families, Chattanoogans are always ready and willing to extend a helping hand.

Building upon the true spirit of Chattanooga and generating awareness around the fact that anyone can be a philanthropist, the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga and The Maclellan Foundation joined forces to launch a portal to connect people in Chattanooga who have specific needs with other people in the community who can help meet the needs. This centralized portal, Purposity Chattanooga, will give anyone and everyone an opportunity to learn about and respond to a neighbor in need. These practical and immediate needs could range from winter coats and backpacks to toiletry items and space heaters. Local needs will be published and disseminated weekly by text message through the Purposity Chattanooga portal.

"As a city, this is what we do best: create a network of support and care and generosity," said Maeghan Jones, President of the Community Foundation. "But sometimes we don’t know the challenges that people face, even though they live just down the street. So we are creating a safe, secure, and reliable way for anyone to respond to the specific needs of our neighbors. It’s about Chattanoogans helping Chattanoogans, in moments of need, large and small."

With more than 20,000 Hamilton County public school students currently living below the poverty line, the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga and The Maclellan Foundation will begin with needs vetted by Hamilton County Department of Education school guidance counselors and will expand later this year to help meet the needs of Chattanooga's homeless and economically disadvantaged neighbors.

"I am excited about the possibility of helping more Hamilton County students," said Marsha Drake, director of student services at the Hamilton County Department of Education. "The fact that anyone can be a philanthropist through Purposity Chattanooga is amazing. A lot of times people in the community want to help our schools and schoolchildren, but they don't know how. Pairing Hamilton County residents with the needs of Hamilton County Department of Education's students in such a simple and straightforward way is a huge win for our students and their families."

Chattanoogans who are interested in receiving weekly text messages through Purposity Chattanooga can sign up for free in less than two minutes. To date, more than 150 residents have signed up and officials hope to have 500 residents sign up by February 15.

"We are so very fortunate to live in such a caring and generous community," said Chris Maclellan, chairman of The Maclellan Foundation. "We believe that this new philanthropic portal, Purposity Chattanooga, will inspire and encourage us to collectively serve our neighbors in need. Our gifts will find purpose through generosity and have the ability to transform families and communities."

Purposity was first launched in Atlanta in Spring 2016 and since has helped to meet the needs of more than 600 students. Chattanooga is now the second city to host this portal, which will be powered by the Community Foundation and The Maclellan Foundation. Sign up is free and takes less than two minutes. After signing up, users will get one text a week, presenting the needs of neighbors residing in the Scenic City.

To learn more or to sign up visit, www.purposity.com. Doing good is just a click away!